What is wrong with this Church of ours, that it makes no impact, that it is silent, has nothing to say or contribute to the world around us? What is wrong is that this church has muffled the gospel, and concealed from itself that this is what it has done. This suppression has been going on for so long that we are now only very tenuously connected to the true Church, the true Church that is created and sustained by the gospel. But we have to hear and return to that one, holy catholic and apostolic Church, the Church of all places and all ages, if the ‘Church of England’ is to be what its name claims.
We have taken out the cross. We have a gospel without truth and judgement, a message of mere empathy and affirmation, an inoffensive gospel, no longer able to cut through any of the contrary claims it meets. Our church does not see how much trouble our neighbours are in and does not go to their aid. Its ‘gospel’ offers them no diagnosis, and no corrective, no medicine, no surgery. It does not challenge the thugs who hold them captive; it neither warns nor threatens them. It does not even identify what it is that ties people down and holds them captive; it does not point out what our troubles are or who is inflicting them on us.
We have divided the gospel into two gospels of love and of truth, and we have chosen love and given up truth. And the result is that our love is no longer truthful; it has no characteristics at all, and so no staying-power, no ability to form people so that they can continue to love no matter what happens. We have got used to half-truths and falsehoods, and do not notice the damage being inflicted on those around us. Without truth and judgement, there is no true love.
But the Gospel of Jesus Christ reveals what is true. It judges us, so we are able to see that we do not measure up to what is true. It shows this judgement by each, of all; it shows that none of us meets the criterion for a finished human being. It stops and confronts us and tells us that we are going the wrong way and must turn around and go back towards what we were running away from. It brings disagreement and controversy; it stirs up anger and defensiveness and brings hard words. It reveals that we have condemned ourselves and we have condemned one another.
No offence – no cross – no gospel
No gospel – no Church
But thou art the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy….
